Section of article men thought mild (7)
I believe the answer is:
clement
'mild' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'section of article men thought' is the wordplay.
'section of' indicates a hidden word.
'CLEMENT' is hidden in the letters of 'article men thought'.
(Other definitions for clement that I've seen before include "(Of weather) mild, lenient" , "nice" , "Mild; gentle; merciful" , "- - Attlee (PM)" , "gentle approach" .)